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Young Chang

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This week I’m in Boynton Beach Florida at my mom’s house with my sister Perry and brother-in-law Justin.

Perry and I trying on some of Dad’s old Pine Valley sweaters…..we’ll be keeping these:

We went down to the beach for some lunch:

 

Then spent the night playing the piano…..it’s been about 15 years since I’ve played but some of it came right back:

 

My attempt at singing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=BnOa_YVxh8o

 

Fail.

*****

c. 1984

My mom was visiting a friend’s piano store and called my dad to come and look. He drove right over from work and as they were looking around he asked:

If you could have any piano in this room what would you pick?

My mom picked out a black Young Chang grand piano that they couldn’t afford……just for fun….. but then they both agreed on a used, inexpensive brown stand up.  My dad was scared that my mom might buy the stand up when he left so he started arguing in circles until my mom got fed up and said “I’m leaving”. That was exactly what he wanted to hear……

A few weeks later on Christmas Eve we were having dinner at my grandparent’s house and my dad got a phone call. He said that his company was having serious computer problems and that he had to go to the office for the emergency.  A few hours later he returned and drove us all home. My mom walked in the house,  turned on the light, and screamed that we’d been robbed because the couch was out of place. Then she looked across the room and saw the black Young Chang baby grand piano. My dad hadn’t gone to the office….but had raced back to our house 30 miles away to let the piano movers in (who he had somehow bribed to work late on a Christmas Eve.)

My dad loved surprises.

 

 

About Ashley Hackshaw

Living a simple, creative life in #smalltownusa Bryson City, NC. Renovating a 1960s ranch house and an old train depot. Thank you for reading! Read more in my about section. 

Comments

  13. Allison says

    Awesome story! AND my three year old listened to your concert for 15 minutes straight. Made her stop only because it’s nap time!

  22. Amanda Lovan says

    How sweet! I always hope my husband develops a super sweet side that includes yummy surprises like the one you described. This is a man who proposed to me in his boxers and tan Army t-shirt sitting on another couch after we’d been arguing all morning. 😀

  24. Joy T. says

    What a sweet story! Your dad really was a special man. By the way, my baby girl made me play your video like 20 times… she totally LOVES it and dances along… so I think it works, maybe not a fail at all!

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